Key takeaways
- A Golden Visa holder can sponsor spouse and children with no age cap on sons or daughters — the standard 18/25-year cut-offs do not apply.
- Parents can be sponsored, and dependents are issued visas matching the principal's 10-year term.
- There is no minimum salary requirement for Golden Visa sponsorship, unlike the AED 4,000–10,000 tests on employment-based residency.
- Domestic staff can be sponsored, with the number set by the authorities rather than a fixed statutory cap.
- Marriage and birth certificates must be legalised and Arabic-translated — this is the step that delays most family files.
Who you can sponsor
Spouse, sons and daughters regardless of age, and parents. That is the headline difference from ordinary residency, where a son typically ages out at 18 (or 25 in full-time study) and daughters must be unmarried. On a Golden Visa a 32-year-old son remains sponsorable.
Dependent visas are issued to match the principal's validity, so a 10-year principal visa produces 10-year dependent visas rather than annual or biennial renewals — one of the practical reasons families prefer this route.
No salary test, but documents still bite
Employment-based sponsorship in the UAE imposes minimum salary thresholds and Ejari-linked accommodation requirements. Golden Visa sponsorship does not. What it does require is a clean documentary chain: legalised marriage certificate for a spouse, legalised birth certificates naming both parents for children, and proof of relationship for parents.
Legalisation means attestation in the country of issue and by the UAE mission there, then MoFAIC in the UAE, followed by certified Arabic translation. Start this before you close on the property — it routinely takes longer than the property transfer.
Costs and sequencing
Budget roughly AED 5,000–7,500 per dependent covering visa issuance, Emirates ID, medical fitness and typing. Each dependent needs a medical test (children under 18 are generally exempt) and biometrics for the Emirates ID.
Sequence matters: the principal's Golden Visa must be issued before dependent applications are filed. Submitting the family alongside the principal file is the most common reason an otherwise clean application bounces.
What dependents get — and what they do not
Dependents receive full UAE residency: Emirates ID, school enrolment, bank accounts, driving licence eligibility and access to healthcare. Adult children and a spouse can work in the UAE on a dependent visa with a work permit obtained by the employer.
Dependent status is derived. If the principal's visa is cancelled — typically after selling the qualifying property without replacing it — the dependents' visas fall with it. Keep the renewal chapter in view when you plan a disposal.
Frequently asked questions
Who can I sponsor on a UAE Golden Visa?
Your spouse, your children of any age, your parents, and domestic staff. Dependent visas are issued for the same 10-year term as the principal's.
Is there an age limit for children on a Golden Visa?
No. Unlike ordinary UAE residency, sons and daughters can be sponsored with no age cap and regardless of marital status.
Do I need a minimum salary to sponsor my family?
No. Golden Visa sponsorship carries no minimum salary requirement, unlike employment-based residency where AED 4,000–10,000 thresholds apply.
How much does it cost to sponsor family members?
Approximately AED 5,000–7,500 per dependent, covering visa issuance, Emirates ID, medical fitness testing and typing fees.